Portable hoist



y 1968 D. D. CAMPBELL ET.AL 3,385,401

PORTABLE HOI ST Filed on. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 H4 7 n2 /fl I I I24 I34 I I30 I I26 I 32 T 20 I28 1 I52 26 d I 3' I42 v I56 O L 42 4s INVENTOR. FIG. DONALD o. CAMPBELL 38 DONALD I? MOSTELLER Q BY D. D. CAMPBELL ETAL. 3,385,401

May 28, 1968 PORTABLE HOIST 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 5, 1966 INVENTOR. DONALD D. CAMPBELL DONALD E MOSTELLER L A T E L I. E B P M A C D D PORTABLE HOI ST 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 5, 1966 FIG. I!

INVENTOR.

DONALD D. CAMPBELL DONALD P MOSTELLER FIG. 9

United States Patent "ice 3,385,401 PORTABLE HOIST Donald D. Campbell and Donald P. Mosteller, Phoenix,

Ariz., assignors, by mesne assignments, to L. C. S. Industries, Inc., Phoenix, Ariz., a corporation of Arizona Filed Oct. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 583,791 5 Claims. (Cl. 187-11) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A vertical hoist having a main frame normally vertically disposed and having a plurality of base wheels and additionally a pair of auxiliary wheels disposed above the base wheels and to the rear of the hoist, in such position that the center of gravity of the hoist, when tilted, to bear upon the auxiliary wheels and the pair of the base wheels, is disposed between the axis of the pair of base wheels and the auxiliary wheels when the elevator frame of the hoist is lowered to a lowermost position, such that the normally vertical frame portion of the hoist is tilted backwardly in an inclined position to reduce the overall elevation of the hoist and to allow the movement of the hoist under low overhead obstructions while movably supported on a pair of the base wheels and the auxiliary wheels.

This invention relates to a hoist, and more particularly, to a utility hoist having a portable base with an upstanding frame portion on which a cantilever elevator frame is vertically movably mounted.

Many uses for hoists are found in the building trades, and particularly hoists are needed for indoor work to elevate various building materials, personnel, heavy units, such as air conditioning and refrigerator units, tools, motors, etc.

Such hoists which are used in the construction of buildings might, of necessity, be variable in height and be portable, and in addition, must be transportable through low doorways, without disassembling the hoist. Additionally, these hoists must be lightweight hoists capable of handling heavy loads and in order to be portable, they must be readily manueverable and capable of being handled by a single workman or laborer.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a hoist which is particularly adapted for use by persons working in the building trades or on industrial projects for a great variety of hoisting operations.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoist which is very powerful, light in weight, readily portable and which may be varied in elevation and yet be readily transported through low doorways with the hoist assembled and of a normal vertical height considerably greater than the height of the doorway through which it may pass.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoist having novel transport means capable of transporting the vertical portion of the hoist in an inclined tilted position with the center of gravity of the hoist, such that it does not impose a high load upon workmen transporting the hoist from one room to another through low doorways or below various overhead structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoist having elevator means operable by a winch having a worm gear drive and wherein single or compound cable and pulley means provides for varying speeds, as well as the handling of various loads on the elevator of the hoist.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel hoist having an upstanding frame portion composed of a plurality of verticallysuperimposed connectable sections, each section having means at the upper ends thereof for Patented May 28, 1968 mounting a cable pulley so that the assembly of various sections of various elevations provides a suitable height for the vertical upstanding frame structure of the invention, and whereby it may be varied very quickly and readily, as desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel elevator and elevator track means in connection with a vertical upstanding frame structure of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoist having a vertically operable elevator driven by a worm gear and pinion structure, such that the elevator is held in any particular desired position by the worm gear and pinion without the use of brakes or ratchets.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hoist having a base frame and a substantially vertical upstanding frame portion and wherein two pairs of wheels support the base frame and wherein a pair of auxiliary wheels are mounted on the frame above and rearwardly of the rearmost pair of wheels on the base frame permitting the hoist to be tilted backwardly to an inclined disposition, such that the hoist is supported on the rearward pair of base wheels and the auxiliary wheels and such that when the elevator portion of the hoist is in its lowermost position, the center of gravity of the hoist is disposed between the pair of rearward base wheels and the auxiliary wheels, thereby permitting a workman to move the hoist around on these wheels at a tilted or inclined angle, such that the elevation of the hoist is low and to thereby permit it to move under doorway structures or other overhead structures, which are at a lower elevation than the uppermost portion of the upstanding frame portion, when in vertical position.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hoist in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the hoist of the invention, showing the elevator thereof in a broken line elevated position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken from the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 44 of FIG. 2, but showing the structure thereof on enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the line 5--5 of FIG. 2, showing the rear portion of the hoist of the invention;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan sectional view taken from the line 77 of FIG. 2',

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 8-8 of FIG. 7, showing the structure rotated from a plan to a side elevational disposition;

FIG. 9 is a reduced side elevational view of the hoist of the invention similar to that shown in FIG. 2, and showing by broken lines, a tilted inclined position of the hoist so as to permit it to be transported through doorways or below overhead structures, which are at a lower elevation than the normally vertical elevation of the upstanding portion of the hoist;

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the winch idler pulley and elevator pulley shaft of the invention illustrating a single pull leverage of the cable and the winch mechanism; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but showing a compound cable pull relative to the pulleys on the upper end of the upstanding frame portion of the invention and on the elevator thereof; said pulleys being engaged by a cable operable by the winch of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the invention is provided with a frame 20 having a base portion 22 and a substantially vertical upstanding portion 24. The base portion 22 is provided with cross members 26 and 28 interconnecting forward and rearwardly extending frame members 30 and 32.

A pair of forward wheels 34 and 36 support the forward portion of the base portion of the frame 22. These wheels 34 and 36 are rotatably mounted beneath forward portions of the fore and aft frame members 30 and 32, respectively.

A rearward pair of wheels 38 and 40 are solidly mounted on lower portions of the rearward ends of the fore and aft frame members 30 and 32, respectively.

The upstanding portion 24 of the frame 20 is provided with a pair of vertically disposed members 42 and 44 having respective lower ends 46 and 48 fixed to and supported on the fore and aft frame members 30 and 32, respectively. The vertically disposed members 42 and 44 of the upstanding frame portion 24 are preferably eye-shaped in crosssection, as shown best in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

The eye-shaped in cross-section structure of each of these vertical members 42 and 44 comprises a central web structure 50 having oppositely directed flanges 52 and 54 at the normally rear side 56 thereof. The cross-section of the eye-shaped vertical members 42 and 44 are also provided with oppositely extending flanges 58 and 60 at the forward portion 62. All of the flanges 52, 54, 58 and 60 being integral with the central web structure 50 and forming a very strong structural unit.

The upstanding frame portion 24 is composed of a plurality of vertically superimposed sections, including continuing section portions 64 and 66, as shown in FIG. 1. These sections continuing upwardly from the vertically disposed members 42 and 44 and the additional sections 64 and 66 may be of any length, as desired, attention being directed to FIG. 2, wherein additional sections are shown in connection with the upstanding or vertical members 42 and 44. As shown in FIG. 2, an intermediate section 68 is disposed between the section 42 and 64, so that the upstanding frame portion 24 f the invention may be assembled in various vertical increments, as desired.

These additional sections 64 and 66, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, are secured to the vertical members 42 and 44 by a lap plate 70. This lap plate 70 is secured to the rear portions 56 and 57 of the members 42 and 44, as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. The plate 70 is sufliciently wide in a vertical direction to overlap the abutment designated 72 at the upper ends of the members 42 and 44 and the respective lower ends of the members 64 and 66. Bolts 74 are extended through the plate 70 and through the rear opposed flanges 52 and 54 and the comparable flanges of the vertical members 64 and 66.

Several of the plates 70 may be utilized, as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, to add variety of vertical sections to the upstanding frame portion to attain the desired elevations thereof and these lap plates 70 are secured only to the rearward sides of the upstanding members so that an elevator frame 76 may moved upward and downward on the vertically upstanding portion 24 of the frame. Attention being directed to FIG. 7, in which the flanges 58 and 60 are traversed by rollers mounted on the elevator frame 76, and which rollers support the elevator frame 76 in cantilever fashion on the upstanding frame portion 24 of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, the elevator frame 76 is provided with a pair of forks 78 and 80. The fork 76 is provided with a pair of side plates 82 and 84, and the fork 80 is provided with a pair of side plates 86 and 88. The side plates 82 and 84 are disposed on opposite sides of the fork member 78 and the plate 84 is on the inner side facing the plate 86, which is also on the inner side of the fork 80. The plate 88 is on the outside of the fork 80 and these plates 82 and 84 and 86 and 88 are preferably welded to the fork members 78 and 80.

Interconnecting the plates 84 and 86 are three heavy steel bars 90, 91 and 92. Opposite ends of these bars 90, 91 and 92 are preferably welded to the plates 84 and 86.

Rotatably mounted on the bar 92 is a cable sheave 94, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

Referring particularly to the disclosure of FIG. 7, it will be seen that a roller 96 is rotatably mounted between the plates 82 and 84 by means of a bolt 98. This roller 96 bears on the frontal face 62 of the vertical member 42. Additionally, mounted on the side plates 82 and 84 are rollers 100 and 102, which engage the rear surfaces of the flanges 58 and 60.

Welded or otherwise secured to the rearward ends of the plates 82 and 84 are members 104 and 106 supporting rollers 108 and 110, respectively, which bear in opposed relationship to each other on opposite sides of the web 50.

The rollers 108 and 110 are rotatably mounted on axes substantially parallel with the web 50 and extending in a horizontal direction forward and rearward.

The rollers 100 and 102 are mounted on axes slightly at an angle to the front face 62, as shown in FIG. 7, and thus the rollers 100 and 102 properly engage the slightly angular rear faces of the flanges 58 and 60.

It will be understood that the same bearing arrangement, as shown in FIG. 7, applies to the plates 86 and 88, such that both forks 78 and 80 of the elevator 76 are mounted in cantilever fashion and, thus, are supported on the upstanding frame portion 24 of the invention.

The upper end of each of the vertical members of the vertical frame portion 24 is provided with a notch 112 adapted to receive a flattened end portion 114 of a pulley shaft 116, all as shown best in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Mounted on the pulley shaft 116 is a pulley 118 engaged by a cable 120.

It will be seen that the shaft 116 may be mounted in the notches 112 at the upper ends of any one of the vertical sections of the upstanding frame 24 and that the cable 120 may be retracted onto the spool 122 of a winch, as will be hereinafter described. When the lap plates 70 are removed or added to extend or lower the upstanding frame portion 42, the shaft 116 may readily be installed at its flattened end portions 114 in the notch portions 112.

The spool or reel 122 of a winch 124 supports the cable 120, such that the cable may be retracted and wound onto the spool 122 for elevating the elevator frame 76.

The winch 124 is mounted by means of brackets 126 on a plate 128 secured to the rear surfaces of the vertical members 42 and 44.

A worm gear 129 is fixed to the spool 122 and meshed therewith is a Worm pinion 130 driven by an output shaft 132 of a reduction gear motor 134 mounted on a horizontal platform 136 in connection with the frame of the invention, as will hereinafter be described.

An end 138 of the cable 120 is provided with a hook 140, which may be hooked to the bar 90 for elevating the elevator frame 76 by retraction of the cable on the winch drum or spool 122.

This arrangement is shown in FIG. 10 of the drawings, wherein the cable 120 passes over the pulley 118 and is anchored to the bar 90. It will be understood, however, that the hook 140 may be secured to the shaft 92 adjacent the pulley 94.

As shown in FIG. 11, of the drawings, the cable 120 is arranged for a double pull, it is extended upward over the pulley 118, downward around the pulley 94 and the hook 140 is secured on the shaft 116, whereby the upward speed of the elevator frame 76 is only half that, as shown in FIG. 10, but capable of carrying twice the load.

The platform 136, which supports the motor 134, is secured at its forward portion by braces 142 and 144, which interconnect lower rearward portions of the base frame 22 and a plate 146 secured to the rearward surfaces of the vertical members 42 and 44. Additional braces 148 and 150 extend upward from the rearward portions of the frame members 30 and 32, and support the rearward portion of the platform 136.

A cross plate 152 supports a pair of auxiliary rollers or wheels 154 and 156. These wheels are thus mounted rearwardly relative to the rearward Wheels 38 and 40 and considerably thereabove, as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 9 of the drawings, to permit angular tilting of the hoist of the invention to an incline and broken line position, shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, as will be hereinafter described in detail.

A manual operating switch 156 is provided for controlling the reversible motor 134, such that the spool 122 of the winch 124 may be wound in a direction to retract the cable and to move the elevator frame 76 upward, and when the motor is reversed, the spool 122 turns in a direction to permit the cable to become slack and to permit the weight of the elevator 76 to respond to gravity and to move downwardly.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, section braces 158 may be connected at their lower ends 160 to the platform 1.36 and at their upper ends 162, to uppermost vertical sections 68 of the upstanding frame portion 124 of the invention. Thus, as the upstanding frame portion 24 is extended vertically, the braces 158 are utilized to stabilize the upstanding portion 24 for supporting the elevator frame 76, as it moves to an uppermost position, as indicated by broken lines A in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings, the hoist of the invention may be tilted from a position in which the wheels 34, 36, 38 and 40 rest on a horizontal surface and to a position in which the hoist rests on the wheels 38 and 40 at the rearward portion of the frame and on the auxiliary wheels 154 and 156. The center of gravity of the hoist, when the elevator frame 76 is in its lowermost position, is forward of the auxiliary wheels 154 and 156, as indicated by a vertical line B in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

It will be seen from FIG. 9 of the drawings, that the upstanding frame portion 24, when in the broken line position, is much lower than when in the solid line position, thereby enabling the hoist of the invention to be moved beneath overhead obstructions and through doorways with considerable facility.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that all of the structural components of the hoist of the invention are preferably made of high strength aluminum so that the strength weight ratio is favorable to manual operation of the hoist, as indicated in FIG. 9 of the draw' ings, for tilting, transporting and setting up the hoist in various positions, as desired.

This hoist is particularly adapted for use in the building trade for such jobs as the installation of air conditioners or other equipment internally of buildings. However, a great variety of uses for the hoist of the invention may be apparent to skilled artisans. The auxiliary wheels 154 and 156 in combination with the rearward wheels 38 and 40 and the disposition of such auxiliary wheels with respect thereto and with respect to the center of gravity of the hoist provides for very simple motive operation of the hoist from one place to another by one workman, and particularly with respect to overhead structures, which may constitute a doorway or other obstruction.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be resorted to in a manner limited only by a just interpretation of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a hoist, the combination of: a main frame having a normally horizontal portion; a pair of forward wheels; a pair of rearward wheels; said pairs of forward and rearward wheels disposed to support said frame on a horizontal surface; said frame having a normally vertical upstanding frame portion; an elevator frame mounted to move up and down on said upstanding frame portion; power operated means coupled to said elevator frame and disposed to power said elevator frame to move upward relative to said upstanding frame portion; a pair of auxiliary wheels connected to said frame and disposed above and rearward relative to said pair of rearward wheels, when both pairs of said forward and rearward wheels are on a substantially horizontal surface, whereby said frame may be tilted about the axes of said rearward pair of wheels to bring said auxiliary pair of Wheels downward to bear on a common surface with said pair of rearward wheels; the center of gravity of said hoist, when thus tilted, being disposed between the axes of said pair of rearward base wheels and the axis of said pair of auxiliary wheels, when said elevator frame is in a lowered position relative to said normally vertical frame portion and whereby said normally vertical frame portion is supported in a tilted backwardly inclined position to thereby reduce the overall elevation of said hoist and to allow movement thereof under low overhead obstructions.

2. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: one of said pairs of forward and rearward wheels being caster wheels.

3. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said upstanding frame portion is composed of a plurality of vertically connectable portions, whereby the elevation of said upstanding frame portion may be varied, as desired.

4. The invention, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said power operated means comprises a motor; a worm pinion driven by said motor; a worm gear in mesh with said worm pinion; and a winch driven by said worm gear; and a cable connected to said winch and also connected to said elevator frame.

5. The invention, as defined in claim 4, wherein: a platform supports said motor on said frame, said platform extending rearwardly relative to said upstanding frame portion; and braces interconnecting said horizontal portion of said frame and said motor platform; said auxiliary wheels mounted on said braces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,658,042 2/1928 Druschel 187-2 2,757,756 8/1956 Warry 187-2 2,894,605 7/1959 Leavitt 187-11 3,223,199 12/1965 Schwehr 1872 3,298,462 l/ 1967 Morris 187-2 FOREIGN PATENTS 905,928 9/ 1962 Great Britain. 1,212,645 1/1959 France.

EDWARD A. SROKA, Primary Examiner.

EVON C. BLUNK, Examiner.

H. C. HORNSBY, Assistant Examiner. 

